The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Buster Simmons. Simmons joined the Army National Guard in September of 1940. He served as a combat medic with the 120th Infantry Regiment, 30th Infantry Division throughout the European theater. He provides some details of his basic and medical training. By 1942 Simmons had worked up to Staff Sergeant and was assigned to Camp Blanding, Florida. After 7 December 1941 their camp began receiving casualties, sending out replacement troops and retraining new recruits for combat. In the fall of 1943 they transferred to Camp Atterbury, Indiana. In February of 1944 they traveled to Scotland aboard the USS Argentina. His detachment was designated to man the ship’s hospital. As First Sergeant at this point, Simmons work was mainly administrative and teaching other medics. His division landed on Omaha Beach in June of 1944 and traveled into Germany, participating in the Battle of the Bulge along the way. He shares vivid details of his experiences traveling through France and Germany, including German counterattacks made upon their group and casualties of fellow servicemen. He was discharged in June of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Buster Simmons. Simmons joined the Army National Guard in September of 1940. He served as a combat medic with the 120th Infantry Regiment, 30th Infantry Division throughout the European theater. He provides some details of his basic and medical training. By 1942 Simmons had worked up to Staff Sergeant and was assigned to Camp Blanding, Florida. After 7 December 1941 their camp began receiving casualties, sending out replacement troops and retraining new recruits for combat. In the fall of 1943 they transferred to Camp Atterbury, Indiana. In February of 1944 they traveled to Scotland aboard the USS Argentina. His detachment was designated to man the ship’s hospital. As First Sergeant at this point, Simmons work was mainly administrative and teaching other medics. His division landed on Omaha Beach in June of 1944 and traveled into Germany, participating in the Battle of the Bulge along the way. He shares vivid details of his experiences traveling through France and Germany, including German counterattacks made upon their group and casualties of fellow servicemen. He was discharged in June of 1945.